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PatsySueEngebretsen was born to Condy Wilmith Crider and Ressie Naomi (Ritchie) Crider on March 16, 1943 in Naoma, West Virginia. After graduation from Marsh Fork, High in Montcoal, West Virginia, Patsy wanted to see what lay beyond the coal mining mountains of her hometown. She made her way south to Lakeland, Florida and began school at Southeastern Bible College. While there, she met and married Herbert Williams and they set out to explore even further. Seeking adventure and opportunity, they traveled much of the country and ended up in Homer, Alaska. Their paths parted in Homer and Patsy remarried Gene Engebretsen in 1972. Her travels, now dictated by the U.S. Army, took her overseas and just about any place she hadn't already been inside the United States. While stationed at Ft. Bliss in El Paso Texas, the southwest landscape captured her heart. In 1987 the family relocated to Bemidji, MN where she accepted a position as a professor at Bemidji State University and decided to settle down and finish raising her family. She remained in Bemidji until she left this life in the love and care of her family. Faith, family and education were priorities to Patsy. She gave her heart to Jesus as a young teen and never wavered in her passion for the Lord. As we weep tears of sorrow, we know she sheds tears of joy as she is held tightly in the loving embrace of her heavenly Father. She is survived by two brothers, Condy (Rosalee) Crider and Tex (Susie) Crider; five daughters Tanzy (Rick) Kratzke, Vergas, MN, Trina Thornton, Chile, S.A., Devin (Samir) Hasan, Fleetwood, PA, Aaryka (Jeremy) Mattingly, Charlotte, NC, Candace (Scott) Ophus, Bemidji, MN and ten grandchildren, Jacob and Dezirae Caduff, Charity Thornton, Ilyas and Mikha Hasan, Ashley and Cody Mattingly, Nevaeh, Madeline and Lillin Ophus. She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Ralph Crider and one grandson, Hunter Newell Ophus.

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